Voices in the Dark

The weight of the vision clung to Evelyn like a second skin, an inescapable shadow that clouded her thoughts. Even as she and Soren rode through the dense forest, the echoes of what she had seen whispered at the edges of her mind.

"Evelyn," Soren's voice broke through her trance. "You're doing it again."

She blinked, realizing she had been staring at the dark horizon, lost in thought. "I can't stop hearing them. The voices. They're still in my head."

Soren exhaled sharply, adjusting his grip on the reins of his horse. "That thing—whatever it was—changed you, didn't it?"

Evelyn hesitated. She had felt it the moment she touched the orb. A shift. A power coursing through her veins, something ancient, something alive. But it wasn't just power. It was knowledge. And knowledge was dangerous.

"I don't know if I'm still… me," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.

Soren reached over, resting a hand on hers. "You're still you. No magic or ancient power can take that away unless you let it."

A rustling in the trees made them both snap to attention. Soren's hand went to his sword, while Evelyn instinctively reached for her dagger. The forest around them had been eerily silent for miles, but now—

A low growl rumbled through the darkness.

Soren swung off his horse in one swift motion. "We're not alone."

Evelyn dismounted as well, her senses sharpening. The shadows between the trees shifted unnaturally, and a chill crept into the air.

Then, out of the darkness, a figure emerged.

A tall man with piercing crimson eyes, clad in dark, tattered robes. His presence sent a shiver down Evelyn's spine, but it wasn't fear—it was familiarity.

"You…" The man's voice was smooth, laced with an ancient accent. "You carry the mark of the forsaken."

Evelyn's breath hitched. "Who are you?"

The man smirked, tilting his head. "You have seen the truth, haven't you? The past, the present… the future. And now, it calls to you."

Soren stepped forward, sword raised. "If you know something, speak plainly. We're done with riddles."

The man chuckled. "You are bold, knight. But this is not your path. The girl… she has already chosen. And soon, the darkness will claim her."

Evelyn's pulse quickened. "I haven't chosen anything."

The man's eyes glowed brighter. "Haven't you? The moment you touched the orb, you sealed your fate. The question is—will you embrace it, or will you let it consume you?"

The shadows around them thickened, and suddenly, he was gone.

Evelyn let out a shaky breath. Soren sheathed his sword, his expression unreadable.

"We need to keep moving," he said.

Evelyn nodded, but deep inside, she knew the truth.

The darkness wasn't just inside her.

It was waiting for her to call it home.